Margarete Noren
Kimberley Walsh has revealed the body part she once hated and how a new fitness regime has finally helped her feel good in her skin.
The former Girls Aloud singer, 43, told the Daily Mail that since her youngest son, Nate, four, started at reception, she has been able to return to training, working out in a gym three to four times a week.
The mother-of-three, who also shares sons Bobby, 11, and Cole, eight, with husband Justin Scott, says she once disliked her arms and refused to bare them on red carpets but now she has learned to love them thanks to her new workout routine.
One of her secrets is partnering with Morning Live co-star Gethin Jones after the show airs, focusing on strength and weight training.
In an exclusive interview, Kimberley shared the experiences that have helped her achieve the body of her dreams, keeping her healthy while managing a busy household and long working days.
She said: ‘Over the last year, I have been able to take more time for myself. Before that, when Nate was younger and he was home a lot more, he has never been in full time nursery, I just couldn’t really do any exercise.
‘I am trying to make the most of having more time to myself and staying in good physical shape and staying strong.
‘I have three boys that require me to have their energy levels. For me it is about being strong and healthy, but I am working out a lot more than I was. I am enjoying it actually.’
Kimberley shared the type of exercise that has helped her reach her goals, as well as how frequently she trains.
She added: ‘I don’t like cardio so I do mainly strength training, weights, reformer Pilates, it works really well for my age group. It’s hard on your core and quite a few people think it’s easier than it is.
‘I am not a huge fan of my arms so usually I don’t get them out but where I have been working so hard, I have accepted it and been getting them out. I have been lifting heavy weights to try and achieve it.
‘I train three times a week and if I have an extra session I’ll do four. I always take the weekends off with the kids because I train while they’re at school so it doesn’t really affect them.
‘I am basically a taxi service for them at the weekends from football to golf to parties, whatever they have planned in their busy schedules.
The singer says she has been able to maintain her fitness routine even with early starts on BBC’s Morning Live, where she co-presents with Gethin, who has also become her workout partner.
Kimberley travels from her home in Surrey and stays overnight in Manchester, where the studios are based, yet the pair still manage to stick to their training schedule.
She said: ‘I actually just got a text from Gethin asking if we’re training after the show. He sees I’ve been trying all the time. I’m up at 4:30am, but sure, let’s do it. Gethin is super fit.
‘I have to be really organised when I’m on the show. Justin is amazing and holding down the fort, but I’m a control freak and need to make sure their uniforms are ready, planning is everything.
‘Justin is great, and I never need to worry, I just miss them. I want to be at home with them; I’m such a softie. It’s super early, but it’s such a lovely show to work on, which is why everyone makes the effort to be in Manchester. I really enjoy being there, so it’s worth the sacrifice.’
She says the daytime programme, which rivals ITV’s This Morning, has helped her forge close friendships with the presenters, who she admits are invaluable on their group WhatsApp.
‘We’re all friends, and it’s the most amazing WhatsApp group you could ever have,’ she said.
‘You’ve got doctors, vets, financial advisers, there’s nothing that can’t be solved through this group. I’m really close to Doctor Punam, and it’s wonderful to have her as a friend. When you have kids, there’s always something you need advice on.’
Kimberley, who rose to fame on the talent show Popstars: The Rivals in 2002, says that even though it’s been 22 years since Girls Aloud was formed, she still surrounds herself with the same team, and her bond with Cheryl, Nadine Coyle, and Nicola Roberts is stronger than ever.
The singers, who continue to mourn the loss of their late bandmate Sarah Harding, who passed away from breast cancer in 2021, came together last month to support Nicola at the opening night of Hadestown, posing backstage for a mirror selfie after congratulating her with flowers.
Kimberley says she felt like a proud mother watching Nicola on stage, although it was strange seeing her perform without the rest of the girls.
She said: ‘It’s quite overwhelming, the pride you feel when you get to my age. You really start to appreciate your achievements a bit more. I’m surrounded by the same people we’ve worked with for over 20 years. It’s special, everything we’ve done together.
‘As a fan, nobody wants the band to go their separate ways, but it’s really special that we still have that bond.’
She added: ‘It was lovely to see Nicola on stage, such a proud mum moment. It was so weird because I haven’t really seen her do anything so out of her comfort zone since we started in the band. She was doing something I wasn’t part of and didn’t know anything about.
‘I felt so, so proud. It’s like watching my child or my sister do something, it’s quite overwhelming. I’m like the mother hen; I look at the girls as my children, even though they’re clearly not.’
The former Strictly star’s emotion runs deep not just for her former bandmates, but for her children too.
Kimberley admits that while she has felt teary watching her youngest son start reception, she is even more affected by her oldest entering his final year of primary school.
She explained that her sons are leaning more into their artistic sides than academic ones, and she hopes schools will support all forms of learning.
‘My boys are showing signs of being more artistic and less academic, especially my oldest,’ she said. ‘I feel really strongly about the power of art and always want to champion it because I can tell he’s happiest when he’s creating something.
‘I know that my oldest, Bobby, is definitely more of a visual learner, so it’s important we give him the tools to keep expressing himself. Bobby is very, very grown-up, he’s the oldest in the school and has really turned a corner. The old Bobby has gone; he’s not a kid anymore.
‘It’s emotional for me. I was actually more emotional about him being in his final year of primary than I was about my youngest starting school.
‘The thought of Bobby moving on to secondary school breaks my heart. He hasn’t always been as academic as his brother, and I really hope his artistic side can be celebrated at secondary school, and that he’ll have his moment to shine.’
As one of four children herself, Kimberley admits she always imagined having a large family.
But now, after the arrival of Nate in 2021, she says she feels complete with her three sons.
‘It’s not a crazy question, but I’m not looking to have any more children,’ she confirmed.
‘I feel like after I had Nate, I was happily settled with three. As the years go by, each of them needs so much from you, and I feel like I’m probably stretched enough.
‘I’m very grateful for the three I have, but I think I’m done. I was one of four and always assumed I’d have four, but in reality, having that many kids is a lot.’
The West End actress has teamed up with McDonald’s to launch their first-ever blank Happy Meal box, encouraging children to draw how they feel.
The campaign follows research showing that 42 per cent of children struggle to talk to adults about their emotions, but 73 per cent find it easier to express themselves through drawing.
Kimberley, who says her three boys will be kept busy designing their own McDonald’s boxes, is among the first to road-test the initiative.
Nearly four million limited-edition boxes and crayons will be available in McDonald’s restaurants from Wednesday, 5 November, until Tuesday, 18 November.
The boxes were created in partnership with McDonald’s charity partner, BBC Children in Need, and have Kimberley’s full support.
She said: ‘McDonald’s are giving children this opportunity to express themselves through these limited-edition Happy Meal boxes, which have plenty of space for them to get creative, draw, and express their emotions.
‘My children, even my 11-year-old, will always embrace a blank piece of paper and start drawing. Kids can enjoy it at any age. All my children love art, especially my oldest, who has always been very guided by it. Art is such a powerful tool.’
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